A well done documentary observing a fraction of life in the hood for an 11 year old boy who has taken an interest in the bike life sub-culture as a means of emotional & psychological release. I'm not surprised to see a review from a half-wit, nutcase referring to these kids as "a waste of life." You have to be pretty ignorant and full of hate to make a determination like that, but that's why this documentary is so important. The producers don't judge the decision of the male riders, but instead chooses to place a spotlight on both sides of this sub-culture, allowing us to see it from both perspectives - the police & the bike packs. The circumstances surrounding Pug's life is an important aspect shaping his decisions, and he's funny af - a real old soul trapped in a child's body. These same family circumstances are obviously true for many of the riders coming from low-income families. Instead of a waste of life this film lets us see just a little bit of the raw, amazing, talent and abilities trapped within the confines of hood life. Make no mistake about it, the 12 0'Clock boys did not get their names or exclusive member rights in the pack without being able to demonstrate how practiced, skilled, and talented they are on those bikes. To be able to lift and stand a moving motor cycle / dirt bike / or 4 wheeler straight up - vertically - in the air while balancing their bodies, moving their feet in fancy ways, standing up fully, dodging police, and every other obstacle presented on a busy street - is no less fascinating than watching cast members at the Cirque du soliel. They are amazing. From Pug's pre-teen narrow point of view it seems it seems there's not much else to do, & it's easy to understand his decision to join a bike pack as a main goal. He's young & full of energy. Instead of finding ways to kill them legally, chase them, hate them, and take their bikes away from them - a city that truly cares about them would find a way to help them do what they love in a safer way. You can box the spirit and the genius in hoods all across the country, but you won't be able to control or contain the dynamic and divine energy in their dna - so you might as well find a way to accommodate all of that bright energy, allowing them to do what they need to do to feel alive, appreciated, and valued in this sport. This is a problem that can surely be solved. I'm glad someone focused on what it's like for them from the inside. I grew up in an inner city and the bikes always got everyone's attention from the young to the old. It was like a breath of fresh air to see them flying by doing their tricks and being so free. The film captured the essence of this well. Periodically, accidents can happen, and fatal ones at that, as you will witness in this film - but to be honest - accidents happen all kinds of ways, bikes or not. It's bigger than us. A great watch.

I’m a huge documentary fan, but this one didn’t do it for me.

It's a documentary the way it should be done, it doesn't try to push an agenda on you or condone the illegal activities nor show disdain for it, it just show you the way it is and how they use the riding as a release for whatever problems they have got going on.I saw the movie last night and I've been thinking about Pug and his family ever since. It's been a year or so since they were filmed and I was wondering if there were any updates? Their personal lives past the film may be none of my business, but I can't help but wonder and care. His story moved me so much, I hope he's able to feel free while staying out of trouble.The piece is beautifully done, and gives us a glimpse into this particular setting. Young people have been doing this for years in every kind of community. I rode dirt bikes out on Long Island when I was a teenager, but it was on land that wasn't set aside for dirt riding. We eventually got chased out. These kids are in the streets. That is dangerous, but just about everything in the inner cities are dangerous. I think if they get injured or they injure others, there is a problem to be solved, but instead of bringing the hammer down on them, perhaps we can find a way to give them some of what they need. I'm not ignoring that the behavior is dangerous and not just to themselves. If they get caught, the bikes should be confiscated, kind of a social Darwinism at work. The safest and best riders keep riding, while the rest get shelved.

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One of the best documentaries I have ever seen!

This is like a 2 hour long youtube video of guys doing wheelies on motorbikes. Save yourself the time and see the 3 minute version.

7,5/10 2014 Documentation about the popular DirtBiker Pack 12 O´Clock Boys in Baltimore. Hands down for Baltimore, Orioles & Ravens all day. The Film description brings a reminder to the Wire, which is not that wrong, the hopelessness is present most of the time here. They followed a 13y old named pug 3years long, beginning of 2010, to see his way in to the 12 O´Clock Boys. There are some strong Slow Mo scenes. You get a lot to see in this documentation how Pug grows up , his Background, the beginning of the 12 O´Clock Boys, the Life in Baltimore and the constant problems with the police. Its a vicious circle, with the bikes they have a hobby who keeps them off the corners at least most of the time but with their reckless driving they endanger themselves and others

this lacks nothing! A direct look at the often unnoticed sub cultures in the poorer urban areas.

it's a movie about my city.. why would I not give the movie 5 stars??

Why would any director glorify these wastes of life? Horrible, just horrible

It's so sad to see this. This poor boys future is mapped out in this one documentary. His mother is the worst, she seems like she is also lost in the hood. No guidance in life can be a disaster waiting to happy. I do not pray often but that whole family is in my prayers.

the movie is an exploration of a group of dirt-bikers in the poorer sections of Baltimore one the one end it's a unique look into a sort of escape for the community and to retaliate against the corrupt nature of the law officers or it can be looked at as an unsafe, sport that sparks violence and straying from a more peaceful upbringing although considering the many issues present it is a split issue 13-year old Pug dreams of joining the dirt-bikers that have gathered attention and breaking news and he's willing to do whatever to be a grown man in his own eyes poverty, violence, and depression can play a crucial role in a distraught city, and this is why we view the dirt-bikers dodging the police and choosing their own form of living the way they do there are better paths to choose from education to raising a family; surely, any of those can lead away from dying or being caught in an unfortunate situation with the law this is Pug's dream though after all and he has his own view on the matter this is a clever, well-directed documentary about dirt biking

"Could die any minute" survival of the fittest, piss poor parenting thug lifestyle, the streets of Bmore never change, the uneducated reek havoc in a city that would be better off burning to the ground. Can't feel sorry for these people. Mom's going to let the police have the kid, good idea, you'll be better off, because you can't parent.

Fascinating, skilful, real life and entertaining. Pug maybe a little wayward but has amazing talent.

Not Much To Hold To In High Regard. But It Does Paint A Bad Reputation On Baltimore City Police In Regards To The 'No-Chase' Policy In The City. Not A Great Light On Black People But It's Real As Far As Baltimore Is Concerned...

I cared more about the people of Baltimore and their culture than I did about what they were doing. Even though a part of their culture is what they are doing. Just their mind set, how they conversed with each, and Pugs tenacity to hold onto his dream even though it brought him down a dark path that the movie abruptly ends on. This was overall the best part, not the stunts like I initially thought.

Lofty Nathan documents the peculiar amalgam of young corner "hoppers" and dirt bike counter culture in this impressive documentary that follows a kid called Pug as he works his way into the 12 O'Clock boys - a Mad Max-esque gang of dirt bike riders who cause havoc en masse throughout the streets of Baltimore. The film bears the aestheticism of an episode from the first season of The Wire, and dialogue from something you'd hear in a Young Jeezy interview, but manages to pack the emotional weight of a 'Bottle Rocket' and WILL charm the fucking socks off of you. Also two-strokes.

Highly recommended! As a motorcycle rider/lover,the footage was awesome and well directed/edited,and it gives you more than just wheelies, as real as it gets.

An pretty fascinating look at a never well before documented urban sub-culture with a charming young advocate.

'12 O'Clock Boys'. Tragic as both a character study and broader social commentary on what people live for in their day-to-day struggles. Dangerous escapism as seen by outsiders looking for the temporary kind is darkly ironic. Lotfy Nathan found someone special in Pug. Bright, ambitious, destined for doom. Nature nor nurture have been particularly good to him as a young boy, and it doesn't look like that cycle is stopping anytime soon for him and others in Baltimore. What's been eating away at me ever since I walked out of the theater is how much Nathan's decision to document Pug's quest drove him even further. Would he have done everything he did if a camera wasn't on him? The ending seemed particularly exploitative. You see the pursuit of power, fame and notoriety, driven all the more by social media. The film ending where it does, I'm afraid of what effects this will have on the next generation of Baltimore's 12 O'Clock Boys.